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Two other considerations: (1) what does it mean to optimize within limits of average managerial perception? while some management knows the domain well enough
by wwweston 7y ago
Two other considerations:
(1) what does it mean to optimize within limits of average managerial perception? while some management knows the domain well enough they can identify issues and talent that add additional levels of productivity... many can't. Or as some say, A players hire A players, B players hire C players, etc.
(2) predictable + control-able levels of productivity may well be more valuable in meeting managerial goals than exceptional levels of productivity. this is a generalization of the fungibility optimization; fungibility is one aspect of predictability and control.
- james_s_tayler 7y agoI liken it to an organism. An organism is trying to stay in homeostasis. It's also either growing or decaying, though it mostly appears static. It's exactly as you say. Many aren't capable of identifying opportunities for optimization. Re: the organism metaphor - an organism can be relatively unhealthy and still survive. Some people are ultra-fit. Most are not. Some people really are quite unhealthy. The bar for survival is fairly low. Project that on to companies you can imagine the ultra fit being those companies whose managers can work together to identify opportunities for all the things they are aiming to optimize for and are able to optimize for more than just staying alive.